Lakeside's Jarrett Troxler named new head coach of Greenbrier

After leading Lakeside’s football program to the state playoffs for three consecutive years, Jarrett Troxler is headed for a new challenge at a different school – about 7 miles away.

Troxler, the head football coach and athletic director at Lakeside, was selected as the new head coach at Greenbrier on Tuesday by the Columbia County school board.

“I’m going in there with a ton of enthusiasm and positive thinking,” Troxler said. “Starting tomorrow, I’m goingto work my butt off to light a fire under that program.”

Greenbrier Athletic Director Garrett Black said the 0-10 Wolfpack need the type of coach who motivates athletes and creates some excitement.

“That’s the element he’s going to bring to the table,” Black said. “He’s done a great job at Lakeside.”

Troxler followed Jody Grooms to Lakeside from North Carolina and became head coach in 2010 when Grooms left for Wayne County.

Troxler said he had been courted by other schools but wasn’t interested in leaving Lakeside until the Greenbrier position came open after coach Kevin Hunt resigned in late February.

Black was surprised when his friend called to inquire about the position.

“I said, ‘Are you sure you’ve got the right number?’ ” he said.

Troxler said he saw the opportunity to build a program from the ground up. He said he enjoys building relationships and teamwork and he’s eager for the challenge.

“I love when people tell me you can’t win there,” he said. “It just makes me want to prove them wrong.”

Bill Kay, president of Greenbrier’s booster club, said he’s eager to see what Troxler will bring to the school’s football program.

“I think he is going to bring a very exciting brand of football to the school,” said Kay, a former NFL defensive back who also serves a volunteer community coach at Greenbrier.

Troxler said he knows there will be some hurt feelings among fans and players because of the move, but he only has positive feelings about his time at Lakeside and hopes the program will continue to grow and prosper.

“I’ll be their biggest fan, except for one game a year,” he said.

Black said he looks forward the growth on another strong football tradition at Greenbrier in coming years.

“The bottom line is that we have kept a good coach in Columbia County,” he said.